Height Measurements Research Articles

Factors affecting symptom duration and recovery among home-treated COVID- 19 patients in Baghdad-Iraq: a cross-sectional study.

To determine the prevalence of Long COVID among home-treated coronavirus disease-2019 cases, and the factors that may influence the duration of symptoms. The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2021 at 20 primary healthcare centres in 10 health districts of Baghdad, Iraq, after approval from the ethics review committee of the College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad. Those included were adults of both genders who previously had coronavirus disease-2019 infection as diagnosed through on polymerase chain reaction test, and received supportive treatment during isolation at home. Data was collected through direct interview using a questionnaire which consisted of demographic characteristics, comorbidities, smoking history and symptoms of coronavirus disease-2019 along with their duration. Measurement of weight and height was also done for each subject. Data was analysed using SPSS 27. Of the 400 participants, 248(62%) were males and 152(38%) were females. The overall mean age was 40.8±12.8 years (range: 18-71 years). Of the total, 121(30.25%) subjects had persistent symptoms for >4 weeks. The mean duration of illness was 4.2±3.6 weeks (range: 1-16 weeks). The symptoms that lasted for >4 weeks were fatigue 94(23.5%), loss of smell or taste 59(14.75%), and cough 8(2%). Age, smoking status, comorbidities and the total number of initial symptoms showed a significant association with the duration of illness (p<0.05). A substantial number of mild to moderate coronavirus disease-2019 cases suffered from persistent symptoms. The duration of illness could have been influenced by age, comorbidities, smoking status and total number of initial symptoms.

Overweight and obesity as risk factors for chronic low back pain: a new follow-up in the HUNT Study

BackgroundNumerous studies have examined associations between overweight and obesity and risk of low back pain (LBP), but the exact magnitude of these associations is not yet clear. The purpose of this work was to assess such sex-specific associations in a community-based setting in Norway, taking into account potential relationships with other risk factors.MethodsA cohort study was conducted combining data from two waves of the Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT3 (2006–2008) and HUNT4 (2017–2019). Separate analyses were performed of risk of chronic LBP in HUNT4 among 14,775 individuals without chronic LBP in HUNT3, and of recurrence or persistence in HUNT4 among 5034 individuals with chronic LBP in HUNT3. Relative risks were estimated in generalised linear models for overweight and obesity compared to normal weight. Body size classification was based on values of BMI computed from measurements of height and weight. Chronic LBP was defined as LBP persisting at least 3 months during last year.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity in leisure time and work activity, analysis of risk among women produced relative risks 1.11 (95% CI 1.00–1.23) for overweight, 1.36 (95% CI 1.20–1.54) for obesity class I and 1.68 (95% CI 1.42–2.00) for obesity classes II-III. Relative risks among men were 1.10 (95% CI 0.94–1.28) for overweight, 1.36 (95% CI 1.13–1.63) for obesity class I and 1.02 (95% CI 0.70–1.50) for obesity classes II-III, the last estimate being based on relatively few individuals. Analyses of recurrence or persistence indicated similar relationships but with smaller magnitude of relative risks and no drop in risk among obesity classes II-III in men. The change in BMI from HUNT3 to HUNT4 hardly differed between individuals with and without chronic LBP in HUNT3.ConclusionsRisk of chronic LBP increases with higher values of BMI in both sexes, although it is uncertain whether this applies to very obese men. Very obese women carry a particularly large risk. Probabilities of recurrence or persistence of chronic LBP among those already afflicted also increase with higher values of BMI. Adjustment for other factors does not influence relationships with overweight and obesity to any major extent.

Non-Contact Human Body Dimension Estimation Methods Based on Deep Learning: A Critical Analysis

With the advancement of information technology, Human Body Dimension Estimation (HBDE) is moving towards digitalization and non-contact methods. This paper critically reviews non-contact HBDE methods based on deep learning, primarily covering image-based methods, the Adaptive Body Structure Segmentation (ABSS) algorithm with height and weight measurements, and 3D meshes or point cloud data methods. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) excel in image measurement, while the ABSS algorithm with adaptive segmentation achieves high accuracy. Recent studies, such as the Grey Wolf Optimizer-Elman Neural Network (GBWO-ENN) model, have significantly improved prediction accuracy by optimizing neural network structures. Additionally, 3D point cloud data combined with the Skinned Multi-Person Linear (SMPL) model has proven effective in complex scenarios. This paper summarizes the performance of various methods, analyzes common datasets, and explores future development directions for non-contact HBDE. Despite significant progress, this field still faces challenges such as data quality, scarcity of extreme samples, and privacy issues. Future research should focus on building high-quality datasets and developing lightweight measurement networks to meet practical application needs.

Elevating precision: A thorough investigation of multiparametric prostate MRI for prolonged insights into early continence prediction after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

BackgroundWhile radical prostatectomy stands out as one of the most effective curative treatments for prostate cancer, it does come with annoying side effects, such as urinary incontinence (UI). We aimed to investigate the predictability of UI using MRI measurements, along with clinical and disease-related variables. MethodsWe included 191 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between July 2020 and October 2022 in the study. Preoperative MRIs of the patients are re-evaluated by an experienced uroradiologist, and membranous urethral length (MUL), urethra wall thickness, levator ani thickness, outer levator distance, Lee's apex shape, intravesical prostate protrusion length, prostate apex depth, and pubic height measurements were made. Additionally, retrospective data on patients' age, BMI, PSA, PSA density, prostate volume, IPSS, clinical stage, and nerve-sparing status were collected. Patients were categorized into two groups based on continence status in the third postoperative month: continent or incontinent. The definition of UI was accepted as the use of one or more pads per day. ResultsUI was observed in 38.21 % of the patients in the postoperative third month. Among MRI measurements, only MUL showed a significant relationship with UI (p < 0.001). IPSS (p = 0.004) and Clinical Stage (p < 0.001) were also significantly associated with continence status. Logistic regression analysis identified BMI (p = 0.023; CI 0.73–0.97), IPSS (p = 0.002; CI 1.03–1.17), MUL (p = 0.001; CI 0.66–0.90), and Clinical Stage (p < 0.001; CI 1.53–2.71) as significant predictors. In Multivariable Regression analysis, Clinical Stage emerged as the most powerful predictor of UI (p < 0.001). ConclusionsExcept for MUL, MRI measurements may not predict postoperative UI. A combination of IPSS, clinical stage, and MUL effectively informs patients about postoperative outcomes. These findings contribute to enhancing preoperative counseling for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Does Breast Feeding Protect Mothers From Obesity?

Hepatosteatosis, which we frequently observe today with change in lifestyle, is often unnoticed, but preventable and reversible; if not prevented, it can lead to serious comorbidities. There is contradicting evidence in the literature; we believe that breastfeeding has a protective effect on hepatosteatosis. In this cross-sectional study we conducted, we aimed to examine the relationship between breastfeeding duration, metabolic parameters and fatty liver. We examined the data of 135 patients aged 20-40 years who have had at least one pregnancy and were admitted to our polyclinic. Forty-five healthcare staff who never breastfed were included in the control group. Measurements of height and weight were taken, and number of children and total breastfeeding time were questioned. Blood values were measured to calculate insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score. Consequently, there was no significant correlation between total breastfeeding time and body mass index (BMI), NAFLD fibrosis score, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) value and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). When two groups were formed as patients breastfeeding for less than six months and patients breastfeeding for more than six months, a significant difference in BMI was observed between these two groups (p: 0.02). There was a significant relationship between BMI and NAFLD (p: 0.00) and HOMA-IR (p: 0.00). It was observed that there was a significant difference between BMI FIB-4 and NAFLD fibrosis scores of the control group and breastfed group. Lactation should be maintained for at least six months for maternal health together with the baby's health, and more comprehensive studies should be conducted for long-term data.

Effect of interproximal enamel reduction on interradicular bone volume in clear aligner therapy: a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography study.

To assess the effect of inter-proximal enamel reduction (IPR) on interradicular bone volume and incisal inclination in patients undergoing clear aligner therapy (CAT). The study sample consisted of 60 cases which underwent orthodontic CAT, in a private clinic in Dammam, KSA. A total of 120 CBCT scans (60 pre-treatment and 60 post- treatment) were measured using the CS 3D Imaging software to examine bone volume (using height, width, and depth of the interproximal area) and incisal inclination. The corresponding ClinCheck models were collected to determine the amount and locations of interproximal reduction performed. Little's Irregularity Index values were measured using OrthoCAD software. Paired sample t-test was used to address the measurements of bone height, width, depth, bone volume, and inclination of upper and lower incisors before and after IPR. IPR did not affect the upper or lower bone volume except at LR3-2 and UL 2 - 1 where a significant difference between the bone volume with and without IPR was detected (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04 respectively). Upper and lower incisor inclination showed a statistically significant decrease after IPR. There was no correlation between IPR and bone volume difference between upper and lower teeth except at LR3-2 and UL 2 - 1. IPR had no significant effect on inter-radicular bone volume except at areas of lower right canine-lateral and at areas of upper left central-lateral. There was a positive correlation between the amount of IPR and incisal inclination. The current study findings suggest that while IPR has a minimal and localized effect on bone volume in certain areas, it plays a role in adjusting incisal inclination, highlighting its significance in the careful planning of orthodontic treatment using clear aligners.

Calibrating estimates of ionospheric long-term change

Abstract. Long-term reduction (∼20 km) in the height of the ionospheric F2 layer, hmF2, is predicted to result from increased levels of tropospheric greenhouse gases. Sufficiently long sequences of ionospheric data exist in order for us to investigate this long-term change, recorded by a global network of ionosondes. However, direct measurements of ionospheric-layer height with these instruments is not possible. As a result, most estimates of hmF2 rely on empirical formulae based on parameters routinely scaled from ionograms. Estimates of trends in hmF2 using these formulae show no global consensus. We present an analysis in which data from the Japanese ionosonde station at Kokubunji were used to estimate monthly median values of hmF2 using an empirical formula. These were then compared with direct measurements of the F2 layer height determined from incoherent-scatter measurements made at the Shigaraki MU Observatory, Japan. Our results reveal that the formula introduces diurnal, seasonal, and long-term biases in the estimates of hmF2 of ≈±10% (±25 km at an altitude of 250 km). These are of similar magnitude to layer height changes anticipated as a result of climate change. The biases in the formula can be explained by changes in thermospheric composition that simultaneously reduce the peak density of the F2 layer and modulate the underlying F1 layer ionization. The presence of an F1 layer is not accounted for in the empirical formula. We demonstrate that, for Kokobunji, the ratios of F2 / E and F2 / F1 critical frequencies are strongly controlled by changes in geomagnetic activity represented by the am index. Changes in thermospheric composition in response to geomagnetic activity have previously been shown to be highly localized. We conclude that localized changes in thermospheric composition modulate the F2 / E and F2 / F1 peak ratios, leading to differences in hmF2 trends. We further conclude that the influence of thermospheric composition on the underlying ionosphere needs to be accounted for in these empirical formulae if they are to be applied to studies of long-term ionospheric change.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity, and associations with socio-demographic and etiological factors

Background: Adolescent obesity and overweight (OW) prevalence are rising quickly. The present study was done to assess the prevalence of OW and obesity and its association with demographic and etiological factors. Methods: An observational study including 386 adolescents aged 10-19 years was conducted using a pre-designed questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of weight (kg) and height (cm) were taken and body mass index (BMI) calculated by weight (kg)/height2(m2). The weight status was classified as underweight (UW) &lt;5th percentile, healthy weight (HW) between the 5th and &lt;85th percentile, OW between &gt;85th and &lt;95th percentile, and obese (OB) equal to or &gt;95th percentile using the CDC percentile ranking for BMI-for-age. Statistical data analysis was done by SPSS software version 20. P&lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of adolescents in early, mid, and late adolescent age groups were 11.52 (1.13), 15.01 (0.82), and 17.72 (0.77) years respectively. The overall mean age of adolescents was 14.19 (2.63) years. The mean weight, height, and BMI of adolescents were 44.84 (11.35) kg, 1.54 (0.12) meters, and 18.91 (3.89) kg/m2 respectively. The prevalence of OW and obesity was 11.7%, and 5.4% respectively. A significant association was found between OW and obesity with upper socioeconomic status (p&lt;0.0001), daily junk food intake (p&lt;0.0001), screen time of more than 2 hours per day (p&lt;0.0001), and no or decreased physical activity (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Adolescent obesity is a prevalent issue that requires early primordial and primary intervention through coordinated policy activities made by policymakers and medical professionals.

Integrated simulation method and experimental validation for the vacuum induction melting process

In Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM), reduction of defects such as porosity and cracking is critical to improve electrode integrity. Traditional simulation method ignores the temperature drop of liquid metal as it passes through the tundish, leading to inaccuracies in predicting the solidification process in the mold. Additionally, the crack of ingot may occur during demolding process, which is always overlooked. This paper presents an integrated simulation method that includes the flow model of liquid metal in the tundish, as well as the solidification model and the stress model of ingot in the mold. Based on these models, the criterion for demolding time is established based on First and Fourth Strength Theories. The entire VIM process from pouring to demolding can be analyzed comprehensively through this simulation method. The method is validated by 500 kg Inconel 718 VIM trial including the temperature measurement of outer mold wall, the height measurement of liquid metal in the tundish and longitudinal sectioned experiment of ingot. The suitable criteria for porosity of 500 kg Inconel 718 ingot, including shrinkage porosity and shrinkage cavity, have been found to be the Niyama criterion threshold of 15 K0.5s0.5cm−1 and Classical porosity model. Finally, the impact of each process parameter on porosity and demolding time is studied through this method for 500 kg Inconel 718 ingot. This method is not only applied to 500 kg ingot but also to larger ingot, thereby providing a basis for the VIM process optimization.

Association of adolescent obesity with Anxiety, Depression and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder in the Arab population in Israel - a nationwide study

BackgroundThe health ramifications of adolescent obesity are understudied in the Israeli Arab population, and the impact of ethnicity on the association of obesity with mental health problems is unclear. AimTo examine the association of weight categories with Anxiety, Depression and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Arab adolescents in Israel and to compare this association to a Jewish comparison group. MethodsA cross-sectional nationwide study of 313,936 Arab adolescents aged 14–19 years between the years 2007–2022, and 289,616 Jewish adolescents in a comparison group. ResultsThe aORs for Anxiety, Depression and ADHD in Arab adolescents increased from a reference ‘normal weight’ category to ‘class 3 obesity’, reaching aORs (95 % CI) of 1.31 (1.16–1.47), 1.64 (1.31–2.02) and 1.51 (1.40–1.63) in ‘class 2 obesity’, and 1.51 (1.20–1.87), 2.81(2.00–3.84) and 1.69 (1.45–1.96) in ‘class 3 obesity’, respectively. The dose-dependent association between weight categories and psychiatric comorbidity was confirmed in sensitivity analyses with comorbidity with the purchase of medications serving as the dependent variable. The Jewish comparison group demonstrated a comparable increment in aORs with increase in weight category. The association between excessive weight categories and psychiatric comorbidities was stronger in Arab females, than in males. LimitationsRelying on the recorded weight and height measurements and the diagnoses of psychiatric comorbidity could lead to bias. ConclusionThe study findings emphasize the need to relate to the mental health of adolescents with excessive weight, which can improve their overall quality of life and the success of adolescent weight loss intervention programs.

Herbage biomass predictions from UAV data using a derived digital terrain model and machine learning

AbstractMore than 70% of Switzerland's agricultural area is covered by grasslands that often exhibit highly diverse species compositions and heterogeneous growth patterns. An essential requirement for efficient and effective pasture management is the regular estimation of herbage biomass. While various methods exist for estimating herbage biomass, they are often time‐consuming and may not accurately capture the variability within pastures. This highlights the need for more efficient, accurate estimation techniques. To help improve herbage biomass estimation, we present estiGrass3D+, a Random Forest model. This model predicts pasture biomass using a digital terrain model (DTM) derived from a digital surface model (DSM) for sward height modelling, along with vegetation indices and agronomic variables from UAV images only. The model was successfully evaluated with independent test data from different sites on the Swiss central plateau, including both grazed and mown areas. Model performance on an independent validation dataset achieved a NRMSE of 20.3%, while the training dataset had an NRMSE of 21.5%. These consistent results confirm that estiGrass3D+ is both transferable and applicable to unseen data while maintaining accuracy and reliability across different datasets. The wide applicability of our method demonstrates its practicality for predicting herbage biomass under different pasture management scenarios. Additionally, our method of deriving a DTM directly from a DSM simplifies the measurement of grass sward height by UAVs, eliminating the need for prior ground control point (GCP) marking and subsequent aligning, enhancing the efficiency of herbage biomass estimation.

Forest Canopy Height Estimation Combining Dual-Polarization PolSAR and Spaceborne LiDAR Data

Forest canopy height data are fundamental parameters of forest structure and are critical for understanding terrestrial carbon stock, global carbon cycle dynamics and forest productivity. To address the limitations of retrieving forest canopy height using conventional PolInSAR-based methods, we proposed a method to estimate forest height by combining single-temporal polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) images with sparse spaceborne LiDAR (forest height) measurements. The core idea of our method is that volume scattering energy variations which are linked to forest canopy height occur during radar acquisition. Specifically, our methodology begins by employing a semi-empirical inversion model directly derived from the random volume over ground (RVoG) formulation to establish the relationship between forest canopy height, volume scattering energy and wave extinction. Subsequently, PolSAR decomposition techniques are used to extract canopy volume scattering energy. Additionally, machine learning is employed to generate a spatially continuous extinction coefficient product, utilizing sparse LiDAR samples for assistance. Finally, with the derived inversion model and the resulting model parameters (i.e., volume scattering power and extinction coefficient), forest canopy height can be estimated. The performance of the proposed forest height inversion method is illustrated with L-band NASA/JPL UAVSAR from AfriSAR data conducted over the Gabon Lope National Park and airborne LiDAR data. Compared to high-accuracy airborne LiDAR data, the obtained forest canopy height from the proposed approach exhibited higher accuracy (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 6.09 m). The results demonstrate the potential and merit of the synergistic combination of PolSAR (volume scattering power) and sparse LiDAR (forest height) measurements for forest height estimation. Additionally, our approach achieves good performance in forest height estimation, with accuracy comparable to that of the multi-baseline PolInSAR-based inversion method (RMSE = 5.80 m), surpassing traditional PolSAR-based methods with an accuracy of 10.86 m. Given the simplicity and efficiency of the proposed method, it has the potential for large-scale forest height estimation applications when only single-temporal dual-polarization acquisitions are available.

The estimation of pubertal growth spurt parameters using the superimposition by translation and rotation model in Korean children and adolescents: a longitudinal cohort study.

Understanding the characteristics of the pubertal growth spurt in Korean children and adolescents can serve as crucial foundational data for researching puberty and growth-related disorders. This study aims to estimate the key parameters of pubertal growth, specifically the age and magnitude of the pubertal growth spurt, utilizing longitudinal data from a cohort of Korean children and adolescents. This study used mixed longitudinal height data from a cohort of Korean elementary, middle, and high school students aged 7-18 years. The Superimposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) model, a shape-invariant growth curve model, was utilized to estimate a reference height velocity curve for the entire dataset and individual curves via random effects to evaluate pubertal growth parameters. Altogether, 3,339 height measurements (1,519 for boys and 1,820 for girls) from 270 individuals (123 boys and 147 girls) were analyzed. The average age of growth spurt onset in Korean boys was 10.17 ± 0.61 years (mean ± SE), with peak height velocity occurring at 12.46 ± 0.69 years of age (9.61 ± 1.26 cm/year). Korean girls, contrarily, experience their growth spurt at an earlier age (8.57 ± 0.68 years), with peak height velocity occurring at 10.99 ± 0.74 years of age (8.32 ± 1.09 cm/year). An earlier onset of puberty in both sexes is associated with a shorter growth spurt duration (0.63 years for boys and 0.58 years for girls) and a higher peak height velocity (1.82 cm/year for boys and 1.39 cm/year for girls). These associations were statistically significant for both sexes (all p < 0.0001). This study is the first to use the height velocity curve from the SITAR model to examine the pubertal growth spurt of Korean children and adolescents. The estimated timing and magnitude of the pubertal growth spurt, and their relationships can be useful data for clinicians and researchers.

Unoccupied-Aerial-Systems-Based Biophysical Analysis of Montmorency Cherry Orchards: A Comparative Study

With the global population on the rise and arable land diminishing, the need for sustainable and precision agriculture has become increasingly important. This study explores the application of unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) in precision agriculture, specifically focusing on Montmorency cherry orchards in Payson, Utah. Despite the widespread use of UAS for various crops, there is a notable gap in research concerning cherry orchards, which present unique challenges due to their physical structure. UAS data were gathered using an RTK-enabled DJI Mavic 3M, equipped with both RGB and multispectral cameras, to capture high-resolution imagery. This research investigates two primary applications of UAS in cherry orchards: tree height mapping and crop health assessment. We also evaluate the accuracy of tree height measurements derived from three UAS data processing software packages: Pix4D, Drone2Map, and DroneDeploy. Our results indicated that DroneDeploy provided the closest relationship to ground truth data with an R2 of 0.61 and an RMSE of 31.83 cm, while Pix4D showed the lowest accuracy. Furthermore, we examined the efficacy of RGB-based vegetation indices in predicting leaf area index (LAI), a key indicator of crop health, in the absence of more expensive multispectral sensors. Twelve RGB-based indices were tested for their correlation with LAI, with the IKAW index showing the strongest correlation (R = 0.36). However, the overall explanatory power of these indices was limited, with an R2 of 0.135 in the best-fitting model. Despite the promising results for tree height estimation, the correlation between RGB-based indices and LAI was underwhelming, suggesting the need for further research.

Gender disparities in long passing performance among senior football players: implications for inclusive training strategies

Background: Football, as the most popular sport globally, encompasses fundamental skills like the lofted pass, a cornerstone technique mastered early in player development. Purpose study: This study aimed to analyze long passing performance disparities between senior male and female football players. Method and material: A total of 74 football players, comprising 35 boys and 39 girls (ages 15-18 years), were randomly selected as subjects. Personal information including academic details, age, Body height (cm), Body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m²), training age, and level played, alongside football performance metrics such as: Ball speed (km), Kicked ball distance (m) and Approach run distance (m), were recorded. Data collection involved the use of a Bushnell Radar gun for speed tests and long pass (Model 101911, USA), a digital weighing scale for body weight (BEURER Typ 35, Germany), Stadiometer for body height measurement (SECA 206, Germany) and a measuring tape for distance measurements. Statistical analysis: The data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Mean, SD, and the Mann-Whitney U Test for independent samples (p&lt;0.05). Results: Indicate significant discrepancies in performance metrics between senior boys and girls. Boys exhibited greater ball speed (Mean=79.00±9.36km) vs. to girls (Mean=51.62±7.92km), with a significant inferential statistic of p&lt;0.00. Similarly, kicked ball distance favored boys (Mean=46.53±51.11m) vs. over girls (Mean=17.47±9.73m), again with a significant inferential statistic of p&lt;0.00. Notably, gender differences were less pronounced in approach run distance. Surprisingly, age, training age, and BMI showed no significant correlations with performance metrics, suggesting other influential factors. Conclusions: These results highlight the notable differences in football performance between genders, highlighting the greater speed and strength of boys in kicks and ball distance covering. Improving overall performance and inclusivity in the sport may depend on addressing these gaps. Keywords: Football, Long Pass, Gender Differences, Performance Metrics, Kinematics.

Association of Hemogram Parameters with Body Mass Index in Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between hemogram parameters, which are low-cost, easy, routinely applied low-grade inflammation indicators, and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and obesity. Materials and Methods: This study involved 140 KOA patients aged 45 to 85 who underwent knee radiographs, weight and height measurements, and routine laboratory tests. Recorded data included demographic information (gender, age), body mass index (BMI), routine hemogram, and laboratory parameters. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scores (mild: KL 1-3, severe: KL 4) and four groups according to their BMI (BMI 35). Results: The findings revealed significantly elevated levels of serum Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in severe KOA compared to mild KOA (P30 in mild KOA groups, while mean blood NLR was notably higher in patients with BMI=30-35 in severe KOA groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that NLR and NMR could provide a new perspective on the relationship between obesity and mild KOA in clinical practice, presenting a cost-effective and easily applicable alternative for determining disease prognosis and progression.

Producing annual Australia-wide vegetation height images from GEDI and Landsat data

ABSTRACT Vegetation height, and its spatial and temporal changes, is an important environmental parameter required for understanding natural habitats, estimating carbon stores and monitoring forestry activities. Recent satellite LiDAR altimetry sensors have discontinuous spatial coverage but can be combined with spatially complete remote sensing data to extrapolate to large regions. Earlier studies have focused on producing a single spatially continuous vegetation height product. This research builds on past studies, using Landsat (annual surface reflectance and fractional cover products) and the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) data to generate annual vegetation height layers from 1988 to 2022. GEDI data for 2019 were used to train and validate the model, resulting in a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.45 m, mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.82 m, and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.63. This accuracy reduces when the modelled height for 2020, 2021, and 2022 is compared to GEDI data for the same years (RMSE = 6.08–6.29 m, MAE = 4.36–4.73 m, and R2 = 0.48–0.54). Validation with independent field measurements across Australia from 2011 to 2021 shows an RMSE, MAE, and R2 of 8.2 m, 5.2 m, and 0.48, respectively. One source of error is the saturation of the Landsat signal in tall, closed canopy vegetation. While model accuracy is correlated with plot-based vegetation height measurements, results indicate that accuracy reduces for the years outside of the model calibration year (i.e. 2019). When compared to other vegetation height products (also produced using GEDI and spatial remote sensing data) from three independent published studies (one for 2009, one for 2019, and one for 2020), the model developed here tends to estimate 2–4 m taller than the first two studies and around 5 m shorter when compared to the third study. This investigation demonstrates the potential to produce multiyear vegetation height at a continental scale but also highlights the large uncertainty in modelled estimates especially when extrapolating to years other than the model calibration year.

How to get closer to actual forest stand height using GEDI? A case study in central European Scots pine stands

ABSTRACT Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Satellite Laser Scanning mission plays a key role in forest monitoring, conducting global measurements of forest height and structure. However, the use of various stand height metrics and definitions applied to describe forest height complicates study comparisons and the selection of most suitable GEDI metric for stand height determination. Our study was focused on finding the optimal GEDI relative height (rhG) metric to describe the height of Scots pine stands. We compared GEDI rhG parameters with several metrics commonly used as reference forest stand height (a series of Airborne Laser Scanning point cloud percentiles and relative height metrics of simulated waveforms; rhSW). Results showed that GEDI rhG metrics in the 0.95–0.99 rank range can accurately describe forest stand height (ALS reference: RMSE ≤ 2.79 m; %RMSE ≤12.57%; rhSW reference: RMSE ≤ 2.80 m; %RMSE ≤12.21%). Moreover, our analyses suggested that different rhG metrics can be used to describe forest stand height depending on its height and canopy cover to increase measurements accuracy. We recommended a set of GEDI rhG metrics for adequate height measurements of Scots pine stands that can be used by forestry practitioners.

Body mass index changes and their association with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a real-world analysis.

To study body mass index (BMI) changes among individuals aged 18-99 years with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using real-world data from the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network of the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, we compared changes over time in BMI in an Exposed cohort (positive SARS-CoV-2 test between March 2020-January 2022), to a contemporary Unexposed cohort (negative SARS-CoV-2 tests), and an age/sex-matched Historical control cohort (March 2018-January 2020). BMI (kg/m2) was retrieved from objective measures of height and weight in electronic health records. We used target trial approaches to estimate BMI at start of follow-up and change per 100 days of follow-up for Unexposed and Historical cohorts relative to the Exposed cohort by categories of sex, race & ethnicity, age, and hospitalization status. The study sample consisted of 249,743 participants (19.2% Exposed, 61.5% Unexposed, 19.3% Historical cohort) of whom 62% were women, 21.5% Non-Hispanic Black, 21.4% Hispanic and 5.6% Non-Hispanic other and had an average age of 51.9 years (SD: 18.9). At start of follow-up, relative to the Unexposed cohort (mean BMI: 29.3 kg/m2 [95% CI: 29.1, 29.4]), the Exposed (0.07 kg/m2 [95% CI; 0.01, 0.12]) had higher mean BMI and Historical controls (-0.20 kg/m2 [95% CI; -0.25, -0.15]) had lower mean BMI. Over 100 days, BMI did not change (0 kg/m2 [95% CI: -0.03, 0.03]) for the Exposed cohort, decreased (-0.04 kg/m2 [95% CI; -0.05, -0.02]) for the Unexposed cohort and increased (0.03 kg/m2 [95% CI; 0.01, 0.04]) for the Historical cohort. Observed differences in BMI at start of follow-up and over 100 days were consistent between Unexposed and Exposed cohorts for most subgroups, except at start of follow-up period among Males and those 65 years or older who had lower BMI among Exposed. In a diverse real-world cohort of adults, mean BMI of those with and without SARS-CoV2 infection varied in their trajectories. The mechanisms and implications of weight retention following SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear.

Waveform of the Reflected Impulse at the Oblique Sounding of the Sea Surface

The height of sea waves is one of the most important characteristics describing the wave climate of the ocean. At the present, the main radar for remote measurement of wave heights is an altimeter. Measurements are performed at the vertical sounding (incidence angle equal to zero). The Brown model was developed to describe the waveform of the reflected impulse at the vertical sounding. There is no theoretical model for the case of oblique sounding. In the Kirchhoff approximation, the theoretical task about waveform of the reflected impulse at oblique sounding was considered. In the result of the investigation, the analytical formula for the waveform of the reflected impulse for oblique sounding at the small incidence angles (&lt; 12◦) for a microwave radar with a narrow antenna beam was obtained. The waveform of the reflected impulse depends on the width of antenna beam, incidence angle, impulse duration, significant wave height (SWH), altitude of the radar, mean square slopes of large-scale, in comparison with radar wavelength, sea waves. It is shown that possibility exist to retrieve SWH using waveform the reflected impulse at the oblique sounding.